Breaks/leave for school staff
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From: Department of Education
- Published on: 3 December 2019
- Last updated on: 16 December 2024
- Adoptive leave
- Annual Leave / Public Holidays
- Bereavement Leave
- Brief Absences
- Career Break
- Carer's Leave
- COVID-19
- Domestic Violence Leave
- Extra Personal Vacation Days
- Job sharing
- Leave of Absence following an Assault
- Maternity Leave
- Parent's Leave
- Parental Leave
- Paternity Leave
- Personal Days
- Sick Leave
- Unpaid Leave
- Unpaid Leave for Medical Care Purposes
- Voluntary Search and Rescue Leave
Statutory and non-statutory leave entitlements for teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and other education sector staff are listed below.
Adoptive leave
Adoptive Leave is a statutory leave of absence granted to employees who are qualifying adopters, commencing on the date of placement of the child with the qualifying adopter.
Annual Leave / Public Holidays
Statutory Annual Leave and Public Holiday entitlement is regulated by the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.
Bereavement Leave
Bereavement Leave may be granted by the employer to a teacher or SNA in the event of the death of their relative.
Brief Absences
A brief or short leave of absence from school for various circumstances and situations which may arise throughout the school year, for example, for reasons of bereavement, force majeure, testifying as a witness in court and so on. Such absences can be paid or unpaid / substitutable or non-substitutable.
Career Break
A Career Break is a period of special leave without pay for a specific purpose, for a period of not less than 1 school year.
Carer's Leave
Carer’s Leave is a statutory leave of absence to allow an employee a period of unpaid leave in order that they may provide full-time care and attention to a relevant person.
COVID-19
COVID-19: Special Leave with Pay may be granted to an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Domestic Violence Leave
Domestic Violence Leave may be granted by the employer to a teacher or SNA who is a victim of domestic violence or where a teacher or an SNA is providing support to a relevant person.
Extra Personal Vacation Days
Under rule 58 of the Rules for National Schools, primary teachers are entitled to Extra Personal Vacation (EPV) Leave on foot of attending approved summer courses.
Job sharing
The purpose of the Job Sharing Scheme is to assist employees in combining work commitments and personal responsibilities and choices.
Leave of Absence following an Assault
Leave of absence may be granted to an employee who is unable to perform his/her duties due to a physical injury following an assault in the course of their duties and during approved school activities.
Maternity Leave
A pregnant employee who gives birth to a living child is entitled to 26 weeks statutory paid Maternity Leave and up to a maximum of 16 consecutive weeks statutory additional unpaid Maternity Leave.
Parent's Leave
Parent’s Leave is a period of statutory unpaid leave available to the relevant parent to enable him/her to provide, or assist in the provision of, care to the child.
Parental Leave
Parental Leave is a period of statutory unpaid leave available to an employee for the purpose of caring for their child.
Paternity Leave
Paternity Leave is a statutory period of 2 consecutive weeks to allow the relevant parent paid leave to provide, or assist in, the care of the child or to provide support to the mother or adopting parent of the child as the case may be, or both.
Personal Days
Voluntary secondary and community and comprehensive school management may grant special leave to a teacher for up to five school days in a school year for any reason which they may consider sufficient. Substitute cover is not paid by the Department of Education.
Sick Leave
Sick Leave may be granted to an employee who is unable to perform his/her duties because of illness or injury.
Unpaid Leave
Unpaid Leave may be granted in exceptional circumstances where the employer is satisfied that there is a compelling obligation involving absence from duty.
Unpaid Leave for Medical Care Purposes
Unpaid Leave for Medical Care Purposes may be granted by the employer to a teacher or SNA to provide personal care or support to an eligible person for a serious medical reason.
Voluntary Search and Rescue Leave
Special Leave with pay may be granted to a teacher who is a member of a voluntary search and rescue organisation called out on a search and rescue operation.
See also
- Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools
- Teacher Employment Terms and Conditions Web Book Archive
Contact
Teacher and SNAs: Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions Section
- Address:
- Teacher/SNA Terms & Conditions, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath N37 X659
- Email:
- Telephone:
-
(090) 648 3734
- Summary:
- Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are encouraged to submit queries regarding SNA Leave Schemes to their employers in the first instance. All employers have access to applicable Circulars relating to SNA Leave Schemes. Queries relating to statutory and non-statutory SNAs Leave Schemes can be submitted to Leave Admin Section, Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions Section at the email address above. Recruitment and Appointment Unit in Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions Section sets out the recruitment and appointment procedures for SNAs for the primary and post primary sector. Queries should be submitted to PORqueries@education.gov.ie